Cell-Free Synthesis of Selenoproteins in High Yield and Purity for Selective Protein Tagging

The selenol group of selenocysteine is much more nucleophilic than the thiol group of cysteine. Selenocysteine residues in proteins thus offer reactive points for rapid post-translational modification. Herein, we show that selenoproteins can be expressed in high yield and purity by cell-free protein synthesis by global substitution of cysteine by selenocysteine. Complete alkylation of solvent-exposed selenocysteine residues was achieved in 10 minutes with 4-chloromethylene dipicolinic acid (4Cl-MDPA) under conditions that left cysteine residues unchanged even after overnight incubation. Gd^III−Gd^III distances measured by double electron–electron resonance (DEER) experiments of maltose binding protein (MBP) containing two selenocysteine residues tagged with 4Cl-MDPA-Gd^III were indistinguishable from Gd^III−Gd^III distances measured of MBP containing cysteine reacted with 4Br-MDPA tags.     

Broad-Spectral-Range Sustainability and Controllable Excitation of Hyperbolic Phonon Polaritons in α-MoO3

Hyperbolic phonon polaritons (HPhPs) in orthorhombic-phase molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO₃) show in-plane hyperbolicity, great wavelength compression, and ultralong lifetime, therefore holding great potential in nanophotonic applications. However, its polaritonic response in the far-infrared (FIR) range remains unexplored due to challenges in experimental characterization. Here, monochromated electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) is used to probe HPhPs in α-MoO₃ in both mid-infrared (MIR) and FIR frequencies and correlate their behaviors with microstructures and orientations. It is found that low structural symmetry leads to various phonon modes and multiple Reststrahlen bands (RBs) over a broad spectral range (over 70 meV) and in different directions (55–63 meV and 119–125 meV along the b-axis, 68–106 meV along the c-axis, and 101–121 meV along the a-axis). These HPhPs can be selectively excited by controlling the direction of swift electrons. These findings provide new opportunities in nanophotonic and optoelectronic applications, such as directed light propagation, hyperlenses, and heat transfer.     

Precise Extraction of Charge Carrier Mobility for Organic Transistors

Unreliable mobility values, and particularly greatly overestimated values and severely distorted temperature dependences, have recently hampered the development of the organic transistor field. Given that organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) have been routinely used to evaluate mobility, precise parameter extraction using the electrical properties of OFETs is thus of primary importance. This review examines the origins of the various mobilities that must be determined for OFET applications, the relevant extraction methods, and the data selection limitations, which help in avoiding conceptual errors during mobility extraction. For increased precision, the review also discusses device fabrication considerations, calibration of both the specific gate‐dielectric capacitance and the threshold voltage, the contact effects, and the bias and temperature dependences, which must actually be handled with great care but have mostly been overlooked to date. This review serves as a systematic overview of the OFET mobility extraction process to ensure high precision and will also aid in improving future research.     

Dual Inhibition of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex and Respiratory Chain Complex Induces Apoptosis by a Mitochondria-Targeted Fluorescent Organic Arsenical in vitro and in vivo

Based on the potential therapeutic value in targeting mitochondria and the fluorophore tracing ability, a fluorescent mitochondria-targeted organic arsenical PDT-PAO-F16 was fabricated, which not only visualized the cellular distribution, but also exerted anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo via targeting pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) and respiratory chain complexes in mitochondria. In details, PDT-PAO-F16 mainly accumulated into mitochondria within hours and suppressed the activity of PDHC resulting in the inhibition of ATP synthesis and thermogenesis disorder. Moreover, the suppression of respiratory chain complex I and IV accelerated the mitochondrial dysfunction leading to caspase family-dependent apoptosis. In vivo, the acute promyelocytic leukemia was greatly alleviated in the PDT-PAO-F16 treated group in APL mice model. Our results demonstrated the organic arsenical precursor with fluorescence imaging and target-anticancer efficacy is a promising anticancer drug.     

Effect of hyperbranched poly(citric polyethylene glycol) with various polyethylene glycol chain lengths on starch plasticization and retrogradation

A series of hyperbranched poly(citric polyethylene glycol) (PCPEG) materials with varied polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain lengths as plasticizers were mixed with maize starch (MS) via cooking and film‐forming. The structure, pasting property, plasticization, aging property, moisture absorption and compatibility of plasticized starches were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, rapid viscosity analysis, tension testing, moisture absorption measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Compared with PEG and citric acid, PCPEG was more effective in promoting starch chain movement and inhibiting the retrogradation of starch film. Also, PCPEG/MS had smaller moisture content. The longer the plasticizer chain, the better were the aging resistance and moisture resistance of starch. But with an increase of PEG chain length, mechanical properties of PCPEG/MS deteriorated and the compatibility between PCPEG and MS decreased. The hyperbranched derivative of PEG with longer chain exhibited improved plasticization and compatibility with starch. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of mullite whisker reinforced ceramics made from coal fly ash

Ceramics with mullite whiskers were prepared from coal fly ash and Al₂O₃ raw materials, with AlF₃ used as an additive. The phase structures and microstructures of the ceramics were identified via X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results show that pickling of coal fly ash is an effective method for enhancing the flexural strength of ceramics. Sintering temperature and AlF₃ addition were also key factors influencing the creation of ideal ceramics. The ceramic made from pickled coal fly ash, 6?wt% AlF₃, and sintered at 1200?°C, exhibited the highest flexural strength of 59.1?MPa, and had a bulk density of 1.32?g/cm³ and porosity of 26.8%. The results show that ceramic materials made under these conditions are ideal candidates for manufacturing ceramic proppants for the exploitation of unconventional oil and gas resources.     

125I粒子条联合胆道支架植入治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸22例疗效分析

【摘要】　 　目的 研究和探讨125I粒子条联合胆道支架植入治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸的临床疗效。方法 2011年6月—2013年9月收治恶性梗阻性黄疸患者40例。行胆道支架植入术治疗患者18例，为对照组；采用125I粒子条联合胆道支架植入患者22例，为观察组。两组均采用经皮肝穿刺胆道引流（PTCD）并胆道支架植入。结果 观察组与对照组的平均胆道开通时间分别为（8.7 ± 0.7）和（6.2 ± 0.4）个月，两组比较差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。观察组与对照组术后平均生存时间分别为（11.4 ± 0.8）和（8.7 ± 0.5）个月，生存时间的差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。术后近期疗效及并发症两组之间的比较无明显差异（P > 0.05），但是远期疗效有显著差异（P < 0.05）。结论 与对照组相比，观察组的术后生存时间及胆道开通时间明显延长，对于125I粒子条联合支架治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸值得进一步临床研究。
     

高光谱激光雷达谱位合一的角度效应分析

高光谱激光雷达以其谱位合一的技术优势为实现超三维精准遥感观测提供了可行途径,因此成为当前激光雷达与高光谱遥感领域共同大力推进的前沿发展方向。目前已有多型原型系统研发出来并得到了原理性验证,然而针对其数据处理核心环节问题的基础技术仍较为欠缺。典型问题之一是不同波段回波信号受激光入射角度的影响,该角度效应限制了高光谱激光雷达实现高性能遥感。以芬兰空间信息研究所高光谱激光雷达原型系统扫描桦树树干为例探讨了该角度效应,发现了不同激光波段对不同入射角度的回波强度响应模式,推导出了角度效应的基本规律及其精细尺度的统计规律,为后续该方向的系统研发、数据处理及信息提取等提供了可借鉴的底层机理与技术基础。